Overlooked gem, one of the best movies of the year. So, let's answer the question. Sweet Virginia has no wit or wisdom within the script. 2017 during Sweet Virginia that keep the At the motel the manager was having an affair with one of the victims. Its believable that Southern hospitality would be the only reason this weirdo wasnt immediately ostracized, allowing his character to develop as oddly as any other. Usually meek Dont worry, it wont take long. Sweet Virginia (2017) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Jamie M. Dagg Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) Produced by Music by Brooke Blair Will Blair Cinematography by Jessica Lee Gagn Film Editing by Duff Smith Casting By Production Design by Danny Vermette Art Direction by Justin Ludwig After the death of their father, two sisters and their mother come together for a week of tears, laughter, and adventure at the lake where they grew up. I was enjoying this movie until the abrupt, unclimactic, uncreative end. And it takes place in Alaska (though filmed in British Columbia), where we open with a triple homicide in a small. All that said, the movie is well put together, enough so that if youre not entirely tired of its clichs, it might constitute a tolerable entertainment. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence.A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. And also, speak up!!! When theyre not hanging out, we see Elwood cleaning his gun, exercising, picking fights and having emotionless sex with a prostitute. Too tough-looking for his own good, Sam attracts Elwoods attention as he patronizes Sams business, waiting for a payment for the hit that will never come. Upon visiting Mitchell's lawyer, Lila learns that Mitchell was bankrupt, had lied about his life-insurance policies, and was being sued by former business partners. So. room at the motel and befriends Sam, whom he recognizes from his rodeo days. A little after that, a lawyer says to Lila, Were you aware of your husbands financial difficulties and this wannabe Phyllis Dietrichsons eyes go all wide and she practically mouths the word Ooops.. The former Girls star, whose blooming career is still often seen as a response to his brief time on (and tumultuous exit from) that epochal HBO show, has spent the last few years playing one brooding knuckle-dragger after another, like hes trying to rid himself of whatever cooties Lena Dunham may have left behind. Literally. This movie gripped me from start to finish. The police go through Elwood's belongings and find Lila's name and phone number. A slow burn drama, with great cinematography and score. Guns N' Roses, Stevie Nicks, Janet Jackson and Wizkid are on sale now. There were 12 other movies released on the same date, including The Star, Wonder and Zack Snyder's Justice League. Upon leaving the next morning, Bernadette picks up the picture Sam laid down. Hyper-portentous neo noir thats sturdily composed and moves at a hypnotically steady pace. They set up the characters really well. Just below that it reads "Ticket Confirmation#:" followed by a 10-digit number. Problem with small towns is everybody leaves 'em. Hes much tougher than he looks, and the only person he becomes close with during his stay is the exact opposite. Truly a work of art. Bernthal is somewhat more relaxed as a one-time tough guy just trying to come into his house justified, but, not to put too fine a point on it, so what. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. A wasted opportunity because of the great cast. The professional hit-man responsible has been hired by a local woman to wipe out her husband but two other men are killed in the process. [3] The film was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. director Jamie M. Dagg came on board, he moved the setting far to the north. Made by fans in Aotearoa New Zealand. If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, unlimited online access is. Take this bit of diner conversation between Sam, a onetime rodeo champ played by Jon Bernthal, and Elwood (no really), a contract killer played by Christopher Abbott. The movie description, in my opinion was the former rodeo champ helped Elwood but that's definitely not what happened. To bylo proputno 17. listopadu 2017, IFC Films. They open a ton of threads about all of them in subtle, natural ways, plus relationships between some of them By what name was Sweet Virginia (2017) officially released in India in English? The motels owner, an ex-rodeo star named Sam (Jon Bernthal), is a burly, bearded cowboy with a limp and early-onset Parkinsons. One too many falls. The only saving grace is the short ninety minute running time. With his dead eyes and awkward mannerisms, the only Best Buy, Fable and DAVIDsTEA, to name a few. The killer sets up stall in a motel run by a former rodeo star. And it takes place in Alaska (though filmed in British Columbia), where we open with a triple homicide in a small town diner. The man then tells her she should be celebrating because Mitchell has been killed as she wanted. The movie showed a few different locations but it was ultimately filmed in Payson, Utah, according to Herald Extra . Despite that when it all comes together the end result and overall story just doesn't feel worth it despite the majority of individual components working very well together it just came out a bit average. EXCLUSIVE: Jon Bernthal (Daredevil), Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt and Odessa Young have signed on for director Jamie Dagg's upcoming thriller Sweet Virginia, which was a Later that night, Lila receives the threatening voicemail and tries to run away from home, but is attacked by Elwood. And since most folks reside in giant metropolises, it becomes difficult to pronounce judgement on this evaporating way of life. The writing is naunced ,with little windows being left for each character ,to ask why? Summaries. A few scenes after the killing, we learn what motivated it, as Elwood meets with Lila McCabe (Imogen Poots), the woman who hired him, on a scenic bridge. However, Sam notices that Elwood is bleeding and realizes he is the one who robbed Bernadette. Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. Tap "Sign me up" below to receive our weekly newsletter Sweet Virginia is a 2017 neo-noir thriller film directed by Jamie M. Dagg, written by Benjamin China and Paul China, and starring Jon Bernthal, Christopher Abbott, Imogen Poots, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young and Jared Abrahamson. There was an error, please provide a valid email address. He tells Sam that his father was a huge fan of Sam and would have loved to meet him but he's now deceased. The assassin and manager strike an uneasy relationship. In the rearview mirror, we see the Sam leaves Maggie's basketball game to spend the night with Bernadette. Just embarrassing. to collect her husbands estate and pay him. Elwood, Christopher Abbott (whose credits include indie movies and TV work) Even during the daytime, it's dark. she continues to talk to a man while he is kissing her body. It wasnt a happy marriage shes having Its strength is in its restraint. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. A guy walks into a bar. The website's consensus reads, "Smart and well-acted, Sweet Virginia delivers a tense, atmospheric thriller that transcends genre conventions even as it embraces them. He subdues and nearly shoots Bernadette when he notices Sam's hat on the counter. So. This movie is stocked with great actors and great plot ideas that just never come together. Best part is ,,you don't see it coming. Indie crime films tend to be missed by the masses, unlike indie comedy which can garner more interest. Privacy Policy We know what were supposed to be feelingand so we wait, armrests gripped tight. The man returns and shoots Lou, Mitchell, and Tom. neo-noir thriller was located in the Appalachian Mountains; however, when This plays out like a good old fashioned film noir and sadly it does not go very well for all the characters involved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. Drama. Out of the Furnace. So much to like about Sweet Virginia. And yet, going deep is what makes Sweet Virginia great heck, more than great. Everything is well done in this film. It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. Nothing worse than that ott ,,feel this now ,,base obviousness. He asks about his payment, and Lila tells him she will have it by the end of the week after she meets with Mitchell's lawyer. time, she confesses to not having cried and her husbands murder doesnt impede By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Jon Berenthal sleepwalks as if sedated with a massive dose of thorazine. 4 / 5 stars 57% 79%. gives a creepy performance. Even with her husband gone, they try to be circumspect about it. A former rodeo star, now a motel manager, meets a young man who is responsible for the violence that suddenly has seized his small town. Sweet Virginia Release date: April 21, 2017 Country: Canada, Sweet Virginia is a 2017 Canada-English language movie, directed by Jamie M. Dagg and written by Paul China (as The China Brothers), Benjamin China (as The China Brothers). It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films. There needs to be more films with this depth and uncertainty, playing out like a Coen Bros classic but being its own is no easy feat. Strong yet soft-spoken, The Walking Dead star Benthal plays Sam Rossi, an ex-rodeo champ who now operates a spartan motel on what feels like the brink of the world. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Sex is implied and afer sex, a woman is covered by sheets but as she is moving we see her legs. Just so you know what youre getting into, Sweet Virginia isnt too sweet. Cons: Elwood says his father died in a prison riot in 1996 and shows a strong disdain for him. A surprising late in the year gem reminiscent of Jeremy Saulnier. This is a great film and the filmmakers are to be watch carefully as this demonstrates a rising talent to watch. This small gem is worth Jon Bernthal 7/10 There is violence, there is quite a lot of Drama, but I guess some might think there is a lot more to this or rather, there could be a lot more to this. Even though the sense of menace grows so oppressive at times, you can hardly breathe for minutes on end, its the characters ever-evolving inner mechanics that fuel our engagement. Coming Soon. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As Satisfied, he leaves and meets with Paul to enlist his services to do a job to which Paul agrees. Don't listen to the bad reviews. Id rather watch Double Indemnity for the 15th time. Smart and well-acted, Sweet Virginia delivers a tense, atmospheric thriller that transcends genre conventions even as it embraces them. Directed by Jamie M. Dagg Drama, Thriller R 1h 33m By Jeannette Catsoulis Nov. 16, 2017 A twisty, small-town thriller that blooms in the shadows and shies from the light, "Sweet Virginia". It thrives like unmowed kudzu in the dialogue of this aspiring noir written by brothers Paul and Benjamin China and directed by Jamie M. Dagg. By creating an account, you agree to the headlights of a car that appears to be tracking her. You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off, Berlinale 2023 Highlights, Part Two: Reality, Manodrome, The Adults, Inside, Golda, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Cate Blanchett, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson Feted at SBIFF 2023, Revisiting Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Tragically Common: Jamie Dack, Lily McInerny and Jonathan Tucker on Palm Trees and Power Lines. One rejection suggested that Nabokov recast the novels action in short, strong, realistic sentences; Nabokovs imagined examples still stand as hilarious, sterling examples of what I like to call cornpone clich: He acts crazy. 7/10 by me. Klassisches Sonntags-Couchkino. It oozes it from every frame. the Terms and Policies, and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Just writing this after watching. probably enjoys. I doubt I'll remember having watched it in a few years time but it certainly wasn't bad. Once Sam has left her home, Elwood and Paul approach the house while she is in the bathtub. Coming Soon, Regal We wont be able to verify your ticket today, but its great to know for the future. The score of the film is great creates the perfect atmosphere, the performances of all the actors individually are very good and it's a very good but very short slow burn. She is arrested and the final shot is of Bernadette cutting Sam's hair while he thinks about his riding accident. Director Jamie M. Dagg only touches on his plot briefly enough to make us worry about what information were missing, which is the opposite of the classical noir strategy to overwhelm the viewer with misdirection, betrayal and circumstance. Super engaging scenes that makes you learn about all of them. And some scenes that should've been done in a quick 30 seconds or one minute tops took 2 or 3 minutes long. By shifting the China brothers script from Virginia to this remote frontier, Dagg has forged a connection not only to film noir, but also to the lawlessness of the Western. The cast is good, the settings are correct and even cinematography. But for all her calculations, she hadnt foreseen that others would be hurt in the process. When the violence happens, its intense, and the threat hovers over the rest of the movie (by following Elwoods car into town during the opening scene, Dagg is able to create another high-tension set piece around the mere suggestion that the headlights Lila sees in her rearview mirror might be his). Played out in an unidentified locale (although the titular motel scenes were shot in Hope, British Columbia), Sweet Virginia is set in an undefined earlier time frame than the present, one where simple folks never locked their doors, even with a killer lurking in their midst. This film has surprised me and even more considering that I had avoided it several times for the simple fact that the trailer did not convince me since it was released, but thank goodness I have seen it to get rid of that doubt once and for all. (occasionally cutting to Lilas face). It was released on November 17, 2017, by IFC Films . Thus small town stories tend to be based on romanticized memories (be it good or bad) from the point of city slickers. When Lila enters the diner after riding with Bernadette to get milkshakes, Sam calls her over to the table and introduces her to Elwood. We're in small town America (apparently, Alaska, though I don't remember them mentioning that in the film, and it was filmed in British Columbia, of course). Upon returning to the motel, Sam finds a tenant complaining about the noise in room 128. Pretty predictable. an affair with motel owner Sam and shes not devastated by her loss. thing surprising about Elwood is that hes accepting money for something he Their filming locations were top-notch. Nice movie. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. ', Chris Pine Says Star Trek Film Franchise Feels Like Its Cursed, Calls It Frustrating Being Kept Out of the Loop on Star Trek 4, HBO's Leading Man: Casey Bloys on Perfecting 'The Last of Us,' HBO Max Streaming Merger and Axing Shows, A24 Sweeps Film Categories at the 2023 SAG Awards as 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Breaks Record for Most Wins, Jean Smart 'Doing Well, Recovering' Following Heart Procedure, Says Hacks Co-Star Hannah Einbinder, Ke Huy Quan Becomes First Asian Male Film Winner at SAG Awards for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. Coming Soon. Theres something far too squirrely in the siblings wickedly funny, regionally infused sensibility to be replicated, and nearly everyone who tries falls flat. Jacob Oller is a writer and film critic whose writing has appeared in The Guardian, Playboy, Roger Ebert, Film School Rejects, Chicagoist, Vague Visages and other publications. Sam knocks on the door and begins fighting with the tenant. A former rodeo champ befriends a young man with a propensity for violence. Bernthal is great but even his character is a bit flimsy with a lot of unanswered details about his past looming over the viewer. Read more about cookies here. Regal An early version of this moody, atmospheric neo-noir thriller was located in the Appalachian Mountains; however, when director Jamie M. Dagg came on board, he moved the setting far to the north. with updates on movies, TV shows, Rotten Tomatoes podcast and more. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Given its far-north location, Alaska is known for having extraordinarily long nights at certain times of year, and yet, that isn't the case here. two men accompanying his target. One of those movies where the trailer looks so promising but then you are so disappointed when you watch the whole movie. But as good as Bernthal is, Chris Abbotts low rent hitman is a clenched jaw force of nature, unable to stop killing until he gets his fee for knocking off a locals philandering husband. The movie is a beautifully photographed, moody story that favors style over substance. It's certainly worth the hour and a half you'd spend watching it. 2023 National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. Watched this late at night,was blown away. This 10-digit number is your confirmation number. The movie opens with a brutal prologue featuring a triple Bernthals beard and muscles are intentionally groomed to intimidate and mask the softness he crafts behind them, but its immediately apparent by Sams meek hobble that hes a broken down old bull. Our aged hero must face his relationships of past and present to come up against this unpredictable predator. Jon Bernthal, Marvels The One of the dead men was married to Lilas But as directed by Jamie M. 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